Connecticut launched an investigation into an additional 10 state employees suspected of cheating a federal food program meant to help poor Connecticut victims of August’s Tropical Storm Irene, growing the total number of alleged food-scammers to 44.
Gov. Dannel Malloy launched the investigation on Dec. 4 of state employees who allegedly lied about their incomes to defraud the federal supplemental nutrition program known as D-SNAP that was set up to help low-income individuals who incurred disaster-related expenses following Irene.
The state Department of Social Services and the Office of Labor Relations are reviewing all 824 applications filed by state employees for D-SNAP Irene benefits. Aside from the 44 who have been referred to agency heads for administrative reviews, 29 have been cleared of wrongdoing. The remaining 751 applications are in varying stages of review, with the highest priority given to state employees with the highest incomes.
“Since we first announced our investigation, we’ve uncovered dozens of cases where it appears that state employees may have deliberately lied on their federal disaster assistance applications to receive benefits,” Malloy said in the latest announcement. “Everyone is entitled to due process, but if these allegations prove true, it constitutes a serious violation of the public trust. We can and must demand better from public employees.”
